A1 – Managing Misbehaving Attorneys in Mediation – Robin Caral Shaw (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: Mediators, especially mediators who are not attorneys, will benefit from tips and tools for dealing with attorneys whose behavior in mediation is aggressive, insulting, indifferent, or self-interested. By discussing relevant portions of the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, Chapter 44, Florida Statutes, and The Florida Bar’s Professionalism Expectations, this program will educate
mediators and provide suggested language for reminding attorneys of their duties and obligations to their clients, to the Bar, and to the mediation process.
A2 – Mediator’s Proposal: Strategy, Tactics, and Making it Work – Greg Holder (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: When the parties reach “the end of the road” in their negotiations, impasse can occur. The mediator’s proposal can be the “silver bullet” that knowledgeable mediators employ to avoid impasse. This program will address the mechanics of the mediator’s proposal, with emphasis on ethical constraints and considerations. It will also address tips and lessons learned from an experienced full-time
neutral.
A3 – The ADA and Facilitating Mediations: Considerations to Ensure Access and Self- Determination – John Dorris (1.2 CME Cultural Diversity)
$5.00
Video recording: The presentation will include a brief overview of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), its purpose, and protections. It will further include a discussion of Title II and Title III requirements of program access, reasonable modifications to policies and procedures, opportunity and integration, and effective communication as they apply to the core mediation concepts of self-determination, the needs and interests of the parties, fairness, procedural flexibility, confidentiality, and full disclosure. The presentation will further explore auxiliary aids and services useful to ensure effective communication with scenarios to help illustrate the various concepts.
A4 – The Rules of Engagement: Protect Your Mediation Practice – Shari Elessar, Judge Lester Langer, Meah Tell (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: As a mediator you play a key part in the administration of justice by fostering joint problem solving and exploring settlement alternatives. You work hard to do your job and sometimes things can go wrong, including not getting paid or worse, a party or attorney threatens to (or does) file a grievance against you. It is important to know both your rights and responsibilities. This seminar
discusses ethical requirements as well as steps you can take to protect and preserve your relationships, with a focus on written explanation of fees. We discuss mediation engagement agreements, explanations, and other alternatives to a signed engagement agreement. We will provide useful samples and a common-sense overview of how to get paid for your mediation services.
A5 – A Friendly Divorce: Providing a One Stop Service for Unrepresented Couples – Elinor Robin, David Spofford (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: While once thought of as controversial, the 2025 Rule Revisions (10.370(e)(3) have now clarified (in a committee note) that mediators can fill out supreme court approved forms after a mediated settlement agreement has been reached. There is a significant market for this service. Many couples want to avoid the pitfalls of an attorney driven divorce. These couples just want someone to help
them reach an agreement and prepare their paperwork so they can go in front of a judge for an uncontested divorce. Mediators who provide this service have found different ways to operate. However, to be successful there are a few guidelines that should be followed. Successful in this instance means serving the clients while ensuring the mediator is adequately compensated. In this session, David and Elinor will discuss some of those guidelines.
A6 – Navigating Narcissism in Family & Dependency Mediations – Michelle Hubbs (1.2 CME Interpersonal Violence)
$5.00
Video recording: Family and dependency mediations present unique challenges, particularly when narcissistic individuals are involved in cases of domestic violence, interpersonal violence, child abuse, and orders of protection. This seminar will explore how narcissistic behavior impacts mediation in cases involving violence against women and children, offering practical tools and strategies to help mediators
safeguard vulnerable parties, manage power imbalances, and prioritize the best interests of the child.
A7 – Enhancing Performance and Outcomes Through Recognizing and Addressing Trauma – Judge Jack Helinger, Sarah Kay (1.2 CME Interpersonal Violence)
$5.00
Video recording: If we miss the Trauma we miss the case. Learn to recognize and address trauma in any case, equipping yourself with the tools to better understand its impact on parties and their families. Strengthen your ability to provide meaningful support and enhance outcomes for Florida’s families with a trauma-informed approach.
B1 – Navigating the Pathological Personality for More Positive Outcomes – Tina Mayer (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: Understanding and identifying the enemy’s tactics, resources, and movements is the key to winning a war. The same is true when diffusing conflict or moving people into agreement.
Understanding the personality type and what motivates a person is the first step to successful outcomes. The more correctly you can identify the driving force behind a personality and what motivates them, the better you can anticipate the pitfalls and negative behavior patterns that are likely to emerge. This allows you to have strategies ahead of the issues and understand what that individual needs to stay on a positive track. Whether you are mediating a marital settlement agreement or crafting a parenting plan or acting as a parenting coordinator, developing a “sixth sense” for recognizing behavioral patterns is often the most
valuable tool in your toolbox.
B3 – Advanced Mediation Strategies for Handling the Toughest Situations – Joseph Farina, Kevin Johnson, Harold Oehler, Shaina Thorpe (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: Advanced Mediation Strategies for Handling the Toughest Situations A sixty-minute course taught by veteran mediators and trial lawyers on strategies for handling the toughest situations that commonly derail mediation. This seminar is based on techniques outlined in the “Florida Mediation Best Practices Handbook” which contains mediation strategies contributed by over 800 mediators and trial lawyers.
B4 – Mediating Parties I Know – Chester Wilson (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: This workshop will focus on mediating parties known to the mediator and will highlight disclosing to parties relationship history and the ability to remain neutral. Mediators will learn how to assess themselves for appropriateness and examine their ability to remain neutral or recuse themselves.
B5 – Powerful Tools of Disclosure to Settle Difficult Disputes—When, What & How to Share Confidential Information – Jeffrey Kleeger (1.2 CME General with 0.5 hour of mediator ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: This session begins by exploring simple, but powerful tools lawyers, mediators and parenting coordinators can use to settle difficult disputes. Attendees will learn to eliminate obstacles applying effective “strategies for solutions” to orchestrate opportune information-sharing, restore broken trust, advance problem-solving dialogue, and avoid passive-aggressive behaviors.
B6 – Pre, During and Post Mediation Strategies to Achieving Settlement – Gary Rosner (1.2 CME General with 0.5 hour of mediator ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: In this workshop, participants will learn strategies to achieve the best chance of resolution including: pre-mediation preparation (submissions to mediator, preparing the client for reasonable expectations, understanding the process); during mediation techniques (speaking with attorneys without clients (with consent of parties), mediator proposals, benefit of adjournments in certain cases); and post
mediation action (benefits of a cooling off period, follow up, identify areas where progress made).
B7 – The Mediator’s Toolbox: Essential Skills for Conflict Resolution – Mary Bruck, Ioana Zanchi (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: This workshop will help mediators navigate conflict resolution effectively by using and understanding: the language of conflict resolution, conflict misconceptions, causes, and styles.
C1 – How to Use AI for Mediators – Christopher Hopkins (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: Gain hands-on examples and experience with ChatGPT and Proplexity to understand (a) how to improve your mediation services and (b) how lawyers and parties are using it before they mediate. Attendees will get specific prompt examples which they can immediately use in their practice.
C2 – How to Handle Difficult Clients in Mediation – Ana Cristina Maldonado, Hadas Stagman (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: This workshop is designed for attorneys and mediators who have difficult clients and can utilize the mediation process to achieve a positive outcome. It answers two core questions: “Why is this person being difficult?” and “What can I do in mediation that will be effective?” The presentation will explore neurobiology concepts from polyvagal theory, present strategies and techniques to handle
challenging behaviors, share skills for effective communication, and discuss practical tips to facilitate a successful mediation process.
C3 – Co-Parenting & Addiction Recovery – Jackie Otero (1.2 CME Interpersonal Violence)
$5.00
Video recording: This workshop focuses on the intersection of co-parenting and addiction recovery, offering tools and strategies to help individuals navigate the challenges of raising children while in recovery, or with a coparent in recovery. Participants will learn how to navigate and facilitate complex situations through healthy boundaries and effective communication. The workshop will also address the unique emotional and psychological dynamics that can arise from addiction recovery, providing support and guidance on how to heal relationships with co-parents and create a stable, nurturing environment for children.
C4 – Which is best? Parent Coordination, Co-Parent Therapy, Reunification Process, Family Therapy, or GAL – Christine Hammond (1.2 CME General with 0.5 IPV hour)
$5.00
Video recording: High-conflict family dynamics are difficult to navigate with mounting aggression, accusations of abuse, opposing parenting methods, irreconcilable differences, and polarizing disputes.
The idea that some type of intervention for the family unit may resolve some, if not most, of the issues, seems too good to be true. What are these interventions, and which one is best?
C5 – Mediating a Business Divorce – Steven Gard (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: This session will discuss mediating disputes between business partners and owners. Like many complex commercial disputes, these mediations can often be contentious and lengthy, but they can often be resolved through creative out-of-the box solutions.
C6 – Getting to Yes: Using Goal- Oriented Interest-Based Thinking – Erin Duncan, Lauren Ilvento (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: While parties often treat a case as a “zero-sum” game, this presentation will assist mediators in helping parties focus on their goals and their future to move beyond “zero-sum” thinking
and towards more creative solutions.
C7 – Mediating Pro Se Family Law Matters – Deborah Beylus (1.2 CME General)
$5.00
Video recording: From initial engagement until the conclusion of mediation, this presentation will explore the nuts and bolts unique to working with pro se couples for dissolution of marriage cases, paternity actions, and post judgment modifications. Three types of processes will be discussed: pre-suit mediation; court-ordered mediation; and court-appointed mediation.
Full Set, All Recorded Presentations from the 2025 DRC Conference
$100.00
Video recording: All Recorded Presentations, Links Provided to Play and Download.
PL1 – Opening Plenary: Evolution of Artificial Intelligence in Mediation – Michelle Jernigan, Christy Foley, Lawrence Kolin, Christina Magee (1.5 CME General with 0.5 hour of mediator ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: The opening plenary session will introduce the manner in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved generally for dispute resolution and how it is employed specifically in mediation. The distinguished panelists will share advantages and disadvantages that arise with the use of AI, as well as specific ethical and pragmatic challenges mediators face in this rapidly-evolving environment.
PL2 – Ethics Plenary: Amendments to the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Thomas A. David (1.2 CME Ethics)
$5.00
Video recording: This year’s ethics plenary will be an overview of amendments to the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators that were implemented effective on January 1, 2025.
The presentation will focus on amendments that implement new standards of professional conduct (e.g., Conflicts of Interest), codify and clarify practices addressed in selected MEAC opinions (e.g., Caucus, Staff Confidentiality, Reporting Outcome, and Social Networking), and clarify existing rule language (e.g., Orientation Session, and Adjournment or Termination). The presentation will also discuss amendments to the qualifications for mediator certification, especially the summary process for county court mediator certification.